Trying out the Creston to Rittman Trail
Columnist Bruce Glick attempts each week to summarize happenings in the birding world. Emphasis is on the local Wayne/Holmes area. This week he rides the County Line Trail. Find out more in the "Gone Birding" column.
Having heard good things about this Wayne County trail, I decided it was time to try it out. On the way north from Millersburg, a stop at Prairie Lane yielded many, many American Coots - at least 550. All of them were busily feeding, most likely building up energy for the next leg of their fall flight south. A few Mallards were also present but no other ducks that I could see.
In Creston, there were easily visible signs leading to a parking area at the beginning of what is officially called the County Line Trail. Nicely paved and marked with a center line, the route heads east between two sets of railroad tracks (growing up I always thought of Creston as the town with three railroad crossings). The trail passes through farmland but often has fencerows with shade trees on both sides. At one point a small wetland appeared on the south side.
There were lots of birds, but especially Yellow-rumped Warblers. These abundant migrant warblers seemed to be working their way along the fencerows, calling with their distinctive soft chip. Turkey Vultures, 15 strong, were perched in a large tree, with several of them testing out their wings before launching off to look for a potential meal.
White-crowned and Song Sparrows were singing from brushy perches and a Golden-crowned Kinglet gave its three note call from a larger tree. Blackbirds are hard to miss this time of year, and this was the case all along the route. There are several very nice bridges over small streams and a Belted Kingfisher gave a rattling call from a perch on a wire above the water. When I got out my camera, it took off and flew to a nearby tree, out of range for the camera but not out of sight. I have always liked Kingfishers and I see or hear them most days when biking on the Holmes County Trail.
At the Rittman end, the trail takes you right through town and ends along the railroad tracks by the Morton Salt plant. This is a very nice trail and was being used by a number of bikers and walkers. Congratulations to the folks who saw this project through to completion.
Meanwhile back in Holmes County, two hummingbirds recently showed up at a feeder, two weeks after the last nesting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds had left. One of the birds is almost certainly a Ruby-throated while the other one is most likely a Rufous Hummingbird. Each fall one or more of these western hummers shows up in Ohio and sometimes they stay for a month or two. A hummingbird expert from Michigan plans to band the bird as soon as possible.
Good birding!
Bruce Glick
birderbruce@yahoo.com
330-317-7798
